Melting furnace



June 22, 1965 w. KUGLER HBLTING FURNACE Filed May 2, 1963 ,l m m. ...h. 9 n O F 1;

L on 3 I 1 m w u Jnvenior:

Claims. (01. 13-27 The present invention relates to an induction furnace having a cylindrical vessel and equipped with iron yokes.

The vessel of a tiltable induction-type melting furnace customarily has one of two configurations. Either the vessel is generally cylindrical, or it is generally cubical, in which latter case the vessel is held in the main furnace support by means of a frame work. Inasmuch as the furnace is, upon being tilted, subjected to considerable bending moments and/ or distortions, particularly the cubical-type vessel has to be equipped with bulky and expensive reinforcing means. The cylindrical vessel is inherently quite rigid and will therefore generally not require special reinforcement. Also, it is relatively simple to equip cylindrical vessels with the tilting means, such as hydraulic cylinders or cables. From a mechanical point of view, then, the cylindrical vessel is more advantageous than the cubical vessel. Furthermore, the cylindrical vessel, in contradistinction to the cubical vessel, allows the induction coil to be easily built in, positioned centrally and tensioned with respect to the vessel. Insofar as the melting operation is concerned, however, the cubical vessel has the advantage that the induction coil is readily visible and accessible, and that, in the case of furnaces equipped with yokes, the latter are likewise readily visible, accessible for servicing and easily exchangeable without it being necessary to remove the crucible and the coil. Owing to their closed construction, conventional cylindrical vessels do not offer these advantages, instead, the coil and yokes are but partially visible through inspection plates, and if one or more yokes are to be exchanged, the crucible and coil must likewise be dismantled.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an induction furnace which overcomes the abovedescribed drawbacks.

More particularly, it is an obpect of the present invention to provide a cylindrical furnace which combines the advantages of the cylindrical and cubical-type vessels without, however, having their respective drawbacks. Accordingly, the present invention resides essentially in a furnace having a cylindrical vessel which, in the region of the iron yokes and/ or coil, is provided with openings or breaches that are so arranged as to allow the yokes to be removed through the breaches, the yokes themselves being attached, independently of the induction coil, to brackets located between the breaches.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a furnace according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1, through a breach United States Patent 0 3,199,948 Patented June 22, 1965 of the vessel and shows the coil and support therefor, as

well as the yokes and the manner in which the same are attached to the vessel.

Referring now to the drawing, the same shows a furnace equipped with a cylindrical vessel indicated generally at 1. The bottom brick work 2 has arranged above it the induction coil 3 which is held in place by means of longitudinal strips 4 and a ring 5. Arranged above the coil 3 is the removable inset 6 together with its brick work 7 and pouring spout 8, thereby allowing the furnace to be dismantled. The furnace as a whole is tiltable about an axis 9 passing through openings of projecting ears one of which is shown at 9a. A crucible 10 is arranged Within coil 3 and the inset 6, 7.

The vessel 1 is, in the regions of the iron yokes 11, provided with openings or breaches 12 equal in number to the number of yokes and of such size as to permit the yokes to be removed through the breaches. The yokes 11 themselves are mounted so as to be independent of the coil 3, namely, on longitudinal brackets 13 located between the breaches 12, there being connecting straps or holders 14 which secure the yokes 11 to the brackets 13. After the holders 14 are removed, the yokes 11 can be withdrawn through the respective breaches 12, whereupon the corresponding coil segment is visible and readily accessible.

The coil 3 abuts against the brackets 13 of the vessel 1 via the longitudinal straps 4 and additional bracers 15. The coil 3 is shown as being centered with respect to the vessel 1 and held firmly thereagainst by means of set screws 16 and insets 17 interposed between the ends of the set screws and the bracers 15. In this way, the mounting of the coil is independent of the mounting of the yokes.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An induction furnace comprising a generally cylindrical vessel, an induction coil, and yokes; said vessel being provided with breaches located in the regions of said yokes, said breaches being configured to permit the withdrawal therethrough of said yokes, the latter being attached to said vessel independently of said induction coil.

2. An induction furnace comprising a generally cylindrical vessel, an induction coil, and yokes; said vessel being provided with breaches located in the regions of said yokes, said breaches being configured to permit the withdrawal therethrough of said yokes, said vessel being provided with brackets located between said breaches and said yokes being connected to said brackets; and means for mounting said induction coil to said brackets independently of said yokes.

3. An induction furnace as defined in claim 2 wherein said induction coil is radially braced against said brackets, and wherein said mounting means are radially adjustable.

4. An induction furnace comprising a generally cylindrical vessel and yoke means, said vessel being provided with breaches located in the region of said yoke means, said breaches being configured to permit said yoke means to be removed from the furnace by being withdrawn through said breaches.

s v I 4 a v 5. An induction furnace comprising, in combination: (d) a plurality of yokes arranged in said breaches, (a) a generally cylindrical vessel having respectively; and

(1) a crucible, (e) means attaching each of said yokes to the two (2) a bottom brick portion, nearest adjacent brackets, said attaching means be- (3) a top brick portion spaced from said bottom, 5 ing independent of said means for holding said inducportion, and 7 tion coil in place. (4) a plurality of circumferentially distributed 5 longitudinal brackets interconnecting said top References Cited y the Examiner and bottom portions thereby to provide breaches UNITED STATES PATENTS msald vessel 2,852,587 9/58 Junker 13-27 (h) an induction coil surrounding said crucible and positioned axially intermediate said top and bottom portions; V

(c) means interposed between said brackets and said RICHARD WOOD Prlmmy Exammer induction coil for holding the latter in place;

2,914,593 11/59 Kann 1327 

1. AN INDUCTION FURNACE COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL VESSEL, AN INDUCTION COIL, AND YOKES; SAID VESSEL BEING PROVIDED WITH BREACHES LOCATED IN THE REGIONS OF SAID YOKES, SAID BREACHES BEING CONFIGURED TO PERMIT THE WITHDRAWL THERETHROUGH OF SAID YOKES, THE LATTER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID VESSEL INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID INDUCTION COIL. 